And they’re off! On the sidelines of a pricier Derby, a race for small-dollar spending

 And they’re off! On the sidelines of a pricier Derby, a race for small-dollar spending

Sure! That means while a high-stakes event (Derby) is happening, there is another competition taking place that involves less money. In the context of horse racing, a “Derby” refers to a high-profile race, often with many spectators and large amounts of money involved. However, the term can be used metaphorically to refer to any high-stakes situation.

A “race for small-dollar spending” refers to a competition that involves less money. This could also refer to a race